The Miami Hurricanes are gearing up for another NCAA Tournament journey as a seven seed, facing off against the 10th-seeded Missouri Tigers in St. Louis this Friday.
Tipoff is set for 10:10 PM Eastern on TruTV. This marks only the second time in program history that Miami has entered the tournament as a seven seed.
Reflecting on their 2008 tournament run, Miami then faced 10th-seeded St. Mary's, securing a 78-64 victory before narrowly falling to second-seeded Texas, 75-72, in Little Rock, Arkansas. Texas went on to defeat Stanford in the South Regional Semifinals before bowing out to Memphis in the Regional Final in Houston.
Back in the 2007-08 season, the Hurricanes finished with a solid 23-11 record, going 8-8 in the ACC, which landed them in fifth place. That season was notable as their sole NCAA Tournament appearance during Frank Haith's seven-year tenure as head coach.
Jack McClinton, a key figure for Miami, led the team with impressive averages of 17.7 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game. James Dews also made significant contributions, averaging 10.3 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.8 assists.
In their 2008 tournament opener against St. Mary's, Miami found themselves trailing 32-27 at halftime.
However, they turned the game around with a dominant second half, outscoring the Gaels 51-32. St.
Mary's was led by future NBA champion Patrick Mills, who scored 24 points. Miami's Jack McClinton was unstoppable, setting a program record with 38 points, including a remarkable 32 in the second half alone.
Future NFL star Jimmy Graham also contributed off the bench with nine points, seven rebounds, and two blocks.
Against Texas, Miami faced a tough first half, trailing 43-32. Yet, they mounted a spirited comeback, closing a 17-point deficit, with McClinton again leading the charge with 18 points. Despite their efforts, Miami couldn't quite catch Texas, who advanced to the Regional Semifinal.
Fast forward 15 years, and Miami would get their revenge against Texas, defeating them 88-81 in the Midwest Regional Final in Kansas City, securing their first-ever trip to the Final Four. That 2023 squad, a five seed in the Midwest Region, showed resilience and determination, echoing the competitive spirit of their predecessors.